Why is it that when you become Christian all of your friends stay away?

Question

I've noticed all of my old freinds are staying away.

Answer 1

Perhaps your enthusiasm for your new-found faith has caused you to push your beliefs down their throats?

Answer 2

My friends have been a little standoffish too. However, since they've had a chance to hang around me, they've realized that I really haven't changed. I still laugh a lot, and tell jokes, and I'm willing to have a beer or two with them. They just say that the only place I've really changed is I don't talk about sex anymore, and I don't swear.

Often, people are afraid that when a person becomes a Christian, they're suddenly going to become this self-righteous, self-important, pompous jerk. They think that we're going to preach at them constantly, and start telling them they're sinning and they're going to hell. They're surprised, I think, when we DON'T turn out to be that person.

The only changes to a new Christian's personality should be positive ones.

What I'm saying is, it'll pass. Let them get used to the "new" you. Who knows, they may like what they see. My friends have.

Answer 3

I'm not going to say something sarcastic or mean. I just think that a lot of these things happen when you make a lifestyle change.

I don't know what you did, and what you do now. For myself, I lost a lot of my friends when I quit drinking. Suddenly, there wasn't much in common.

It might be something along those lines.

Good luck.

Answer 4

They feel convicted of their own sin. Congrats on getting saved!! I've lost pen pals in the last 2 yrs and I've always been a Christian for the past 20 yrs, I'm just closer in my walk with God lately.

Answer 5

They're not true friends. They should be comforting you in your time of need.

It could be that they are scared that you will burn them at the stake like Jesus wants you to:

John 15:6, Kjv reads: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Or that you think they are corrupt fools who can do NO good (Psalms 14:1)

But they should be there to help you through this mental illness (Grandiose Delusional Disorder). I've helped several of my friends cure themselves of this disorder. Your friends should be helping you to do the same. Tell them that you are having strange thoughts like a man could have possibly lived in a whale's stomach for three days, or that snakes and donkeys might have used to talk to people...they should be able to help you out.

Answer 6

Well, once a person becomes a born again Christian and turns from their worldly ways and actions, people will start to see that change that God has begun in you and they don't accept or like it. When Christ saves a person and opens their heart to the truth (the bible) and that person follows God instead of the world, you will be persecuted for it. God says so in His word that we will be persecuted for His name's sake. Their hearts have not been changed by God's Holy Spirit, so therefore, they will reject the truth and thus, remain 'in the world' and will please the world, doing their own thing instead. If they were TRUE friends, they would accept you for who you are and will accept your beliefs. But, don't let them lead you astray; stay on track with God and abide in His word. When you have God on your side, He's all the friend you need - :)

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
1Co 4:12 And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
1Th 2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

2Co 1:7 And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Answer 7

Usually when you convert to a new life, means making a whole new set of friends because your current friends don't adapt to the change in your life and therefore you need to make a new set of friends who are involved in the new activities you do in your daily life.

Answer 8

You changed your life and they don't want to change.
I lost some friends but gained a bigger circle of friends nd family.
After a while the old friends will see how it has changed your life for the better.
I really don't miss the hangovers.

Answer 9

they don't want to hear about it and they don't want you to try to convert them, even if it is by saying how much you bless them. It all sounds like covert attempts at making them believe what you do.

I'm only speaking for myself here, but, as a pantheistic Witch, if one of my friends turned Christan, I would probably keep their company, but I would wonder what we would have left to talk about, since, in my circles, a discussion about Christianity leaves little to the imagination as to what we think of it.

Answer 10

My dear, if they don't hold the same beliefs that you now hold, they are uncomfortable. You glow with the light of the Lord, they walk in darkness...

You are different from them, have you considered finding some new friends, that are like minded? I'm not saying leave your old friends behind...but if they choose to walk away, it is their choice.

There is a price we pay as Christians. Sometimes, we loose friends, family etc., when we choose to walk in the light.

Jesus tells us that if we love this life we will lose it, but if we give up this life, we will have life with Him. To me, the temporal (temporary) isn't nearly as important as eternity.

Peace and grace to you.

E-mail me if you'd like.

Answer 11

perhaps they are not sure what to expect from you...I mean, Have you changed your ways? Are you a different person? Have you altered your lifestyle in any way to make your friends feel like you might not be able to hang out with them any longer (drinking, swearing....etc...) Some of these things may or may not apply to you but I'm sure they are wondering if you have changed at all.